This Year's Surprise Hit: The Mattel Mindflex Game
If you want to give an interesting and surprising gift this year, try the big hit: Mattel’s Mindflex
Why is Mindflex so popular? Mostly because it's something new. If you haven't heard of the Mattel Mindflex game, you're not alone -- it only appeared on the scene very recently, and technology buffs instantly sat up and took notice.
So what is the darn thing? Well, it's a board game. On the surface it's similar to Mousetrap: you set up a series of mazes and try to urge a little ball through your path. The big difference, though, and the thing taking people's curiosity by storm, is the way you control the ball: with the power of your mind.
You have the power!
Mindflex uses brain waves to control the ball's height. It's actually not quite as exciting as the commercials make it out to be, but it's still a total innovation -- what other product for sale in the stores allows you to use your own brain waves to move an object without touching it? It's like instant telekinesis.
This technology has actually existed for a while, but until recently it required goopy gels and conductors to make it work. Now, the Mindflex game can use a simple headband style piece of equipment to register Alpha waves, which allows you to control the height of the ball with your brain.
Who wants it?
The short answer is everyone. The game targets teens, however, and young children may have difficulty making the setup work (it requires some concentration and relaxation of mind to move the ball).
The downfall? Mattel Mindflex is quite pricey -- usually around $80 -- for what is essentially a high tech game of Mousetrap. But let's face it: in many ways you're paying for novelty here. Mindflex is a new generation of games and it's the first of its kind, the first to use this sort of technology, and that has an appeal for people.
In the end, Mindflex is a hot item whether it's worth it or not. It's really up to you to decide if it's worth the money for the novelty. But remember that for many people on your gift list, Mattel Mindflex is in their mind!